Horizontal BarrierS

against rising damp IN MASONRY

PATENTED SYSTEM

Why is rising damp a concern for building owners?

Rising damp is among the most frequently
encountered causes of damage to masonry
walls. The results are usually clearly identifiable

through spalling of plaster, damaged joints and

bricks but also through salt efflorescence and
algae growth.

Change of colour, reduction of the thermal insulation.

Damaged plaster / render

Destruction of render and mortar joints

Development of mould and damage to the fabric of the

structure

Over time rising damp in combination with

salt contamination and / or frost can destroy
masonry structurally. Taking into account the

decrease of the remaining lifespans of such

buildings, rising damp causes high financial
damage every year.

How does rising damp damage masonry?

In masonry that is affected by rising damp,
moisture is continuously transported upward
through the capillaries. The water evaporates
on the surface and more moisture follows. This
process will usually lead to an increase in the
concentration of salts on the surface. Most
evaporation takes place in the area between
the dry (top) and the damp part of the wall
(bottom). In these areas, there are often the first
signs of damage.

Destruction of render and mortar joints

Salt crystallization

Rising damp

Where does the water come from?

Outside

Inside

Rain water
Condensation
Top ground surface

Splash water

Ground moisture

Capillary condensation

Seepage
Ground water

There are many sources from which water can

get to a wall such as rain water, ground water
and condensate (see graphic). Also leaking gutters or drainage pipes can be sources of water. If
the water which is entering a wall is constantly

replenished then a continuous transport of

water through the capillaries of the building
material will take place. The water rises upwards
against gravity due to a mechanism called
capillary action.

Horizontal Barriers 2 | 3

Is it rising damp?
A wall with damage apparently attributable
to rising damp should always be analyzed by
a specialist before any renovation measures
are undertaken. Determining the cause of the
damage is always important. Information such
as the type of damage, the characteristics of
the building, as well as the salt and moisture
contents of the building materials all have to be
taken into consideration when determining how

to repair the damage and remove its cause.

The source of damage may not always be rising
damp. Other possibilites are: splash water above
a functioning horizontal barrier, hygroscopic
action or just leaking pipe installations. If it is
rising damp, the restoration has to take into
account the salt and moisture content of the
building material. Therefore, a salt and moisture
analysis is recommended.

Why does moisture rise in masonry?

Interfacial tension of liquids (adhesion)

Surface tension of water (cohesion)

Rising damp is an effect created by the surface tension of a liquid (cohesion) and the interfacial
tension (adhesion) between the liquid and the solid surface. Generally a liquid has the tendency to
spread when it comes in contact with a surface. On the other hand liquids like water have a surface
tension. These two forces together, lead to the effect that water rises in a narrow pipe (see graphic).

Example for rising damp

Rising of liquids in capillaries

Building materials like bricks absorb water in a

similar way to a sponge (see photo). This occurs
because masonry as well as concrete contain
small pores. Depending on the diameter of
the pores, they can tranport water upwards
against gravity (rising damp). Pores with a
radius between 10-7 m and 10-4 m show the most
distinctive water transport and are referred to
as capillaries. Between 20 % and 50 % of the
pores in the building materials concrete, brick
and mortar fall into that category. Pores with

a radius of below 10-7 m are called micro pores

and are too small for capillary water transport,
where as pores with a radius of above 10-4 m are
too large.
The smaller the diameter of the capillary, the
larger the capillary pressure and the higher the
capillary elevation. A capillary with a diameter
of 1 m (10-6 m) can theoretically create a suction
pressure of 2.8 bar which corresponds to a capillary elevation of water of approximately 28 m.

What have salts got to do with rising damp?

Usually, the water which is transported into and
through a wall contains salts. These salts can
have different sources:
Salts are present in the ground. They can be
dissolved in ground water or ground moisture
and can then be transported with the ground
water into the wall.
Salts are present in the brick itself. These
salts can be dissolved by the rising damp in
the masonry.
Salts have other sources such as deicing salt,
fertilizer or feces which are transported by rain
water, splash water or ground water into the
wall.

Rising damp

Damaged surface

When the salt containing water evaporates in

the surface area of the wall, the salt remains in
the wall or on its surface, leading to an increase
of the salt concentration. The salt crystallizes
on the surface or in the pores of the building material. This process is characterized by
directed growth, an increase in volume and high
strength of the crystals. When salt crystals form
in the pores of a building material over a longer
period of time, a high crystallization pressure
builds up. This eventually leads to a destruction
of the pore. Once this process has proceeded far
enough, the surface of the construction material
becomes brittle and starts to fall off.

Salt crystals on the surface

Destructive crystallization process

Frost has a very similar effect. The ice crystals

that form when a specific amount of liquid
water freezes have a much larger volume than
the same amount of liquid water. If water

freezes in the pores, the expanding ice crystals

build up a high pressure and can lead to the
destruction of the building material.

Horizontal Barriers 4 | 5

How can rising damp be stopped?

There are two fundamental ways to stop
rising damp: Blocking capillary active pores or
hydrophobing their surfaces. Hydrophobing the
surface of a pore means to modify the surface so
that it becomes water repellent (hydrophobic).
Thus, the capillary action of that pore is stopped.

Blocking a pore means to partially or totally fill

the pore in order to stop the transport of water.
It is crucial to bring enough material into the
pore so that the diameter of the pore is narrowed far enough and no more capillary action
can take place.

Hydrophobing : Making the building material water repellent

Narrowing/blocking the capillary, forming an elastic film

in the capillary

KSTER Crisin 76 stops rising damp with

three effects: It lines the capillary with a water
repellent film. Secondly it narrows the pore so
much that capillary action cannot take place
any more. Finally, KSTER Crisin 76 can cure to
form a membrane over the complete diameter
of the capillary.

and those horizontal barriers are still intact

and working. KSTER Crisin 76 has a very low
viscosity and is not water soluble. It penetrates
deeply into even the smallest capillaries in building materials where it stops capillary action
permanently.

These effects together ensure that KSTER

Crisin 76 works every time, irrespective of pore
structure, salt or moisture content. The first
buildings were treated more than 25 years ago

Due to the hydrophobic effect of KSTER

Crisin 76, the drying process in the wall begins
immediately, creating an active horizontal barrier as soon as the material has been installed.

Advantages of KSTER Crisin 76

suitable even in cases of high moisture contents

> 80 %
suitable even in cases of high salt contents
suitable for most types of salts
(sulfates, nitrates, chlorides)
the treated substrate does not have to be alkaline
for the material to react
no prior or subsequent drying of the wall
necessary, even in case of high moisture contents
application possible even at temperatures
below +5C
can not be diluted with water / is not water
soluble
resistant against most ordinary aggressive
substances that are encountered in masonry
such as acids, alkalis and salts
fast reaction, immediately effective

not bio-degradable
not frost sensitive
does not cause or promote corrosion of steel
reinforcements
density (0,76 g/cm3); penetrates deeply even
into the smallest capillaries of the construction
material
the cured material and thus the horizontal
barrier is elastic
can be applied to perforated brick and cracked
or hollow masonry without having to fill the
voids beforehand
no subsequent injection necessary, one time
installation, guaranteed success
patented system
easy installation, horizontal drilling
proven to be effective for more than 25 years
10 years warranty*

KSTER Crisin 76 ist chemically neutral and does not cause efflorescence. It is furthermore resistant against
most ordinary aggressive substances that are encountered in masonry like diluted acids and alkalis.
* Under the condition that the material is applied by a certified applicator.

The patented KSTER Suction Angle System is

the result of decades of experience in combating
rising damp, involving extensive research and
development by KSTER BAUCHEMIE AG. The
horizontal barrier is installed solely through
utilization of capillary action which is itself

KSTER Crisin 76

the cause for rising damp. Thus, rising damp is

stopped with the aid of its cause.
The system consists of the KSTER Crisin 76
cartridge, the KSTER Capillary Rod and the
KSTER Suction Angle.

KSTER Capillary Rods

KSTER Suction Angle

The KSTER Capillary Rod acts like a wick, one

end is inserted into the wall and the other end
into the KSTER Suction Angle. From there, the

it draws the injection liquid into the wall. The

KSTER Capillary Rod is available in a length of
48 or 96 cm.

This is a crucial advantage not only when

installing horizontal barriers into hollow bricks,
vertically perforated bricks or old and cracked
masonry, but also for all other conditions. The
method allows easy control of the distribution

of the injection material in the wall. It also gives

security in the calculation of costs for the installation of a horizontal barrier since the amount
of material needed can be easily determined.

Horizontal Barriers 6 | 7

How to apply KSTER Crisin 76

Remove the plaster and any loose materials
completely from the wall.
Drill the boreholes at the required distance
(see table). The length of the borehole is the
thickness of the wall minus 5 cm. Clean
the boreholes, preferably with pressurised air
in order to remove the dust.
After that, the KSTER Capillary Rod is cut
to the required length (depth of the borehole
+ 7 cm) and inserted into the borehole.
Then the KSTER Suction Angle is installed
and the supply chamber of the KSTER Suction
Angle is filled with water. This has the effect
that the KSTER Capillary Rod swells a little
bit and thereby makes good contact with the

wall of the borehole. Then, the cartridge filled

with KSTER Crisin 76 is set into the KSTER
Suction Angle. KSTER Crisin 76 flows into the
supply chamber of the KSTER Suction Angle
where the liquid is absorbed by the KSTER
Capillary Rod. The injection liquid is transported
through the KSTER Capillary Rod. It is only
released into the wall where the KSTER
Capillary Rod has contact with the wall of the
borehole. In those places where the KSTER
Capillary Rod does not have contact with the
wall of the borehole like cracks and voids in
the masonry - no injection liquid is released
and thus no injection liquid is lost into cracks or
voids.

KSTER Crisin 76

KSTER Suction Angle

KSTER Capillary Rod

5 cm

Once the cartridge is empty, the cartridge and

the suction angle can be removed. Both can
be reused.
After the installation of KSTER Crisin 76

the boreholes are closed using e.g. KSTER

KB-Fix 5.
As an ideal combination KSTER Restoration
Plaster is applied afterwards.

The consumption depends on the thickness of the wall. With the following table the consumption
can easily be calculated.
Thickness of wall of bore holes
boreholes per
incl. Plaster
meter

[mm]

Distance between drilling

Cartridge per
Cartridge per meter
holes from center to
borehole
center (horizontal)
[cm]

up to 30,0 cm

[piece]

[piece]

Maximum consumption
of capillary rod
(48 cm)
(96 cm)
[maximum pieces per m]

if necessary proportionally less than one cartridge can be applied

to 40,0 cm
up

14

12,5

up
to 50,0 cm

14

10

10

10

13

up
to 60,0 cm

14

11

11

18

up
to 70,0 cm

14

13

7,5

13

25

12

up
to 80,0 cm

14

15

6,5

15

33

16

Installation
The following pictures show the installation of a new horizontal barrier with KSTER Crisin 76 in a
historic building.

1.

The masonry is from 1750, the existing plaster is damaged.

The salt and moisture contents are high.

3.

The boreholes are cleaned from dust by blowing the dust out
of the borehole with pressurised air.

5.

The KSTER Suction Angles are installed so that the KSTER

Capillary Rods reach into the supply chamber of the KSTER
Suction Angles.

7.

The KSTER Crisin 76 cartridges are installed.

2.

Boreholes are drilled into the interior walls at a distance of 10

cm from each other (wall thickness 45 cm) up to a depth of
40 cm.

4.

KSTER Capillary Rods are installed so that they protrude

7 cm from the borehole.

6.

The supply chambers of the KSTER Suction Angles are filled

with water in order to pre-water the KSTER Capillary Rods.

8.

The pressureless injection of KSTER Crisin 76 into the

masonry starts immediately after the installation of the
cartridges.

Horizontal Barriers 8 | 9

How fast does KSTER Crisin 76 become active?

Generally, the KSTER Crisin 76 cartridges
empty within 48 hours after they have been
installed. Now the horizontal barrier has been
successfully installed. Due to the hydrophobic
characteristics of KSTER Crisin 76, the reduction of rising damp starts immediately
after the installation. The horizontal
barrier becomes fully effective within
the curing time of the resin which can
take up to 10 days. During this
period, the masonry already
begins to dry. The drying
time depends mainly on
the moisture content
and the thickness of
the walls. The moisture
content can be
determined by taking
core samples which
are then weighed and
dried according to the
kiln-dry method.

Often masonry burdened by rising damp contains high salt concentrations. Therefore, during
the first weeks of drying after the installation
of a horizontal barrier, salts may diffuse to the
surface causing salt efflorescence. This is part
of the drying process. The efflorescence
can be removed mechanically (do not
use water). It is recommended to apply
KSTER Restoration Plaster after the
application of KSTER Crisin 76
thereby preventing any effects
of salt efflorescence.

The perfect system: KSTER Crisin 76 and KSTER

Restoration Plaster
KSTER restoration plasters are especially
designed for the restoration of masonry with
high salt and moisture contents. When rising
damp is stopped with KSTER Crisin 76, KSTER
restoration plasters help to dry out the wall and
it absorbs remaining salts. KSTER restoration
plasters withstand moist conditions since they
do not contain lime or gypsum. They are open
to water vapour diffusion and help to create a
healthy and comfortable room climate. They

are also not effected by high salt contents and

prevent salts from diffusing to the surface. Apply
KSTER Polysil TG 500 as a primer in order to
strengthen the substrate and reduce the mobility of the salt molecules. KSTER restoration
plasters are available in grey or white. In historic
buildings they can be used as a decorative
plaster even without painting. They are suitable
for interior and exterior use.

The interior walls of these buildings were restored with KSTER Restoration Plaster 2 White.

KSTER Restoration Plaster

KSTER Polysil TG 500

Salts crystallize in the pores of KSTER Restoration

Plaster and can not cause damage thereby.

Installation

Remove old plaster. Fill breakouts

and holes with KSTER Repair
Mortar. Spray KSTER PolysilTG
500 onto the surface to block
salts and strengthen the
substrate.

At the earliest after 30 minutes

apply a plaster key to ensure
optimal bonding of KSTER
Restoration Plaster.

Apply KSTER Restoration

After approximately 60
Plaster onto the cured plaster minutes, smooth the
key by trowel or use the
surface.
KSTER Variojet.

Horizontal Barriers 10 | 11

How is a horizontal barrier installed in combination

with negative side or positive side waterproofing?
Subsequent waterproofing normally includes
various measures such as the installation of
area waterproofing for walls and floors and the
installation of a horizontal barrier within the

masonry. The installation of a horizontal barrier

is a key element in any restoration waterproofing project.

KSTER Polysil TG 500

KSTER NB 1 Grey

Waterproofing layer with

KSTER Deuxan
Protection layer with
KSTER Protection
and Drainage Sheet 3-400
Fillet with KSTER
Repair Mortar
Break Edges

KSTER Polysil TG 500

KSTER Restoration
Plaster 2 White
Horizontal barrier with
KSTER Crisin 76
Waterproofing layer with
KSTER Deuxan 2C
Gliding layer
Protection layer

Horizontal barrier with

KSTER Crisin 76
Waterproofing layer with
KSTER NB 1 Grey and / or
KSTER KD System
KSTER Restoration
Plaster 2 White
Waterproofing layer
with KSTER NB 1 Grey
Gliding layer
Protection layer

Drainage

The left side of the drawing shows the solution

with positive side waterproofing. It requires that
the ground on the outside of the basement wall
is excavated and the waterproofing is installed
on the outside of the wall. The advantage is
that the wall is dry after the waterproofing has
been installed. This solution can be implemented
by using the KSTER Deuxan system. In this
case, the horizontal barrier with KSTER Crisin
76 is placed as low as possible. The purpose of
the horizontal barrier here is to ensure that
moisture can not rise from the foundation into
the masonry wall.

The right side shows negative side waterproofing. It is usually the cheaper and faster possibility because it is carried out from the inside.
The KSTER KD-System together with KSTER
NB 1 Grey is the perfect choice for such a solution. The horizontal barrier with KSTER Crisin
76 is placed 30 cm above ground level. The
waterproofing layer on the inside of the wall
ensures that no water can penetrate into the
basement. The purpose of the horizontal barrier
in this case is to ensure that moisture can not
rise into the constuction members above.

Pressurised or pressureless injection?

Generally, horizontal barriers can be installed
with high pressure injection or with pressureless injection. High pressure injection requires
the use of injection ports or so called packers, which are fixed in the boreholes. With a
high-pressure injection pump, a suited material
is then injected into the wall through these
packers. With this method the injection material
can be applied very fast. This advantage is offset
though, if the masonry contains voids because

Pressurised injection
The KSTER pressureless injection method with
KSTER Crisin 76 in contrast utilizes the walls
capillary action. The remedy is injected using the
source of the problem. Advantages of injection
without pressure are:
The injected liquid is transported effectively
into the capillaries which are part of the
mechanism that causes rising damp. No
material gets wasted in cracks or voids.

these voids would be filled with the injected

material during high-pressure injection and thus
be lost. To avoid wasting injection material in
voids and cracks, the boreholes are injected with
a borehole suspension in a preceding work step
in order to fill voids and cracks in the masonry.
The boreholes are then drilled open again and
now the material for the horizontal barriers can
be injected. Additionally, even with very high
pressure, the finest capillaries cannot be filled.

Pressureless injection
The amount of material that is injected into
the masonry is easily controlled. The pressurised injection does not allow such good
control of the amount of injected material.
Damage of the masonry and derogation of
the statics are avoided.

Angled or horizontal placement of the boreholes?

With the KSTER Suction Angle System, the
boreholes are positioned horizontally. The
obvious advantage over diagonal drilling is that
with horizontal positioning the length of the
boreholes is considerably lower. It is also easier
to calculate the required length of the boreholes
(wall thickness minus 5 cm). A further problem

TOO
HIGH

TOO
LOW

of diagonal drilling is that the installed barrier

has different levels on the inside and on the
outside. This is due to the angle of the boreholes
and is illustrated in the following graphic. The
practical result of this can be that moisture
can still overflow or underflow the installed
barrier.

CORRECT

The horizontally positioned system in contrast has the same height level on both sides of the wall
and can thus be easily positioned correctly.

Horizontal Barriers 12 | 13

How can KSTER Crisin 76 be injected in a wall that is

already saturated with water?
A pore filled with water is not like a bottle
but more like a pipe. Therefore even a highly
saturated wall can be treated with KSTER
Crisin 76. The water flows continuously
through the capillary system from bottom
to top. When KSTER Crisin 76 is installed,
the active substances use this same transport
mechanism to enter the finest capillaries. With
its hydrophobic effect, it stops the flow of water
from the bottom and penetrates deeply into the
pore structure.

KSTER Crisin 76 is a water insoluble injection

material and is therefore not in danger of being
diluted with the water that is already present
in the masonry. If an injected material can be
diluted, the material can fail to function properly. KSTER Crisin 76 cures and develops its
full functionality even if the wall is completely
saturated with water. KSTER Crisin 76 does
not require a prior or subsequent mechanical
drying of the wall to become effective.

KSTER Crisin 76

KSTER Crisin 76 cannot be diluted with water

KSTER Crisin 76 penetrates into the capillaries and pushes

out the fluids.

Why is the chemical composition of KSTER Crisin 76

so important with regard to salts?
The stream of water that is transported as rising
damp through a porous building material often
contains dissolved salts. Salts are chemically
active, therefore it is very important that the
reaction of the injection material is not influenced by salts. Due to its unique combination

of active ingredients, KSTER Crisin 76 remains

completely unaffected by high salt contents
of the substrate. Due to the fact that KSTER
Crisin 76 is not an emulsion, the ingredients do
not flocculate when they come into contact with
salts but remain fully effective.

How does KSTER Crisin 76 penetrate so deeply into

A liquid installed horizontal barrier must
penetrate deeply into the capillary system of a
masonry in order to function properly. For this
purpose, a very low viscous liquid is required.
In order to achieve a widespread wetting of
the capillary walls, the injected material has to
possess a low surface tension. KSTER Crisin 76

is a resin based liquid with a very low viscosity.

Due to its low surface tension it is able to
penetrate deeply into the pore structure of a
building material. Additionally, KSTER Crisin
76 contains special additives that promote its
penetration into the building material.

KSTER Product Range

1 External basement waterproofing

7 Bathroom and wet room waterproofing

2 Internal basement waterproofing

8 Mould control

3 Horizontal barriers/
Restoration of masonry

9 Floor coatings
10 Faade protection

4 Crack and hose injection

11 Balcony and terrace waterproofing

5 Concrete protection and repair

12 Roof waterproofing

6 Sealing of expansion joints

13 Water tank and reservoir waterproofing

10

12

10
11

10
8
3
7

1
13

11
1

4
2

13

KSTER BAUCHEMIE AG develops, produces and supplies a

comprehensive range of special construction materials in the
areas of waterproofing and concrete repair. Being founded in
1982 in Germany, the KSTER Group consists meanwhile of 24
companies which are represented in more than 45 countries. It
is our policy to offer construction materials of highest quality,
durability and general performance.

Horizontal Barriers 14 | 15

Service you can depend on

With our service and distribution network in
many countries world-wide we can offer you
professional advice and technical support
immediately and on the spot. Your required
waterproofing materials can be delivered
promptly and will protect your property
efficiently and lastingly.
For further information, please contact:

KSTER BAUCHEMIE AG | Dieselstrae 310 | D-26607 Aurich | Germany

Phone: +49 (4941) 9709-0 | Fax: +49 (4941) 9709-40 | info@koster.eu | www.koster.eu